System for routing articles by individuals who are members of a community, using a responsibility signal indicating when an individual has taken responsibility for the package

ABSTRACT

System for forwarding articles by individuals of a community, using a signal that an individual has taken responsibility for the package. 
     The invention relates to a system for forwarding articles by individuals of a community, implementing:
         packages (E) intended to contain the articles and bearing at least one recognition code ( 31 ),   a computing platform ( 3 ) including at least one computer application intended to be loaded by the computing units ( 1 ) held by the individuals of the community,
 
characterized in that it comprises a database ( 301 ) relating to the packages comprising, for each package, a responsibility code ( 33 ) intended to identify the individual temporarily in charge of the package,
 
and in that the computing platform ( 3 ) is configured for receiving a signal of taking responsibility from the individual temporarily in charge of the package via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said individual holds, and for accordingly modifying the responsibility code ( 33 ) associated with the recognition code ( 31 ) of the package.

The field of the invention is that of logistics. More precisely, the invention relates to forwarding articles, and more particularly articles the dimensions and weight of which allow their forwarding by any person and by any, or almost any means.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a system for forwarding articles the weight of which does not exceed 8 kg Or, more generally, the dimensions and weight of which correspond to the definition of a piece of hand luggage for airlines. Of course, the invention also applies to articles of smaller dimensions and/or weights, down to the shipping of single envelopes.

In the field of the invention, some providers buying and selling products online have generated considerable expectations for the delivery of said products throughout the world.

However, internationally, express deliveries, in a few hours, are complicated or even impossible and are, at the least, very slow and/or very expensive. There are therefore very limiting factors for international commerce and private deliveries, while Internet commerce knows no border. As a result, international express deliveries constitute only a very small market, this despite huge revenues experienced by some international delivery companies.

This finding is linked to the fact that all the current delivery logistics systems are based on a centralized control approach based notably on:

-   -   grouping the goods to be forwarded;     -   bulk transport;     -   consignment by parcel.

In addition, analysis of conventional practices leads to ascertaining that:

-   -   local mail services are restricted to limited deliveries over         relatively small, or even local geographical areas (the adoption         of business models consisting in making resources available to         users by actors other than the conventional professionals,         however, tending to generate new and significant opportunities);     -   national deliveries (more or less monopolistic) operating         perfectly, within deadlines of around 24 hours, but this market         is by definition limited to a single country;     -   international deliveries remain niche markets, favoring the         development of specialized international delivery companies,         with sometimes incompatible or even unacceptable deadlines and         costs.

There is currently an expectation, express or implied, regarding the shipping and delivery of goods within short deadlines compared to current practice, for small fee amounts or even at low cost.

However, one way to satisfy this expectation lies in a community and/or collaborative approach, insofar as everyone is moving in a universe within which a large proportion of individuals together offer multiple opportunities for travel.

It is therefore conceivable according to this approach to set out with an article from a departure point by entrusting it to one of the individuals of a collaborative system and forward it to an arrival point via this individual alone or in relay with one or more other individuals of the collaborative system.

Of course, in such a system, it is essential to be able to identify the individual of the community temporarily having the responsibility for taking charge of the package.

The patent document published under number US2013/342394 describes a device for monitoring small goods or recovering stolen articles. The provided solution does not allow the person in charge of the goods to be identified.

In addition, it is also necessary to know in real time the position of the article to be forwarded, for locating it with respect to its arrival point and/or with respect to the individuals participating in the collaborative system.

In this context, for monitoring the movements of articles to be forwarded, they are provided with geolocation means and communication means allowing them to transmit data relating to their location. In this way a system of traceability of the forwarding of the articles is obtained.

However, such a solution leads to a technical problem with regard to the power supply of the geolocation and communication means. Indeed, a system must further be provided for electrically recharging the power supply means dedicated to the geolocation of the article, which involves hard-to-manage constraints, involving transferring on to individuals of the collaborative system the responsibility for monitoring the electrical recharging of the means in question.

The invention notably has the objective of forming part of a collaborative logistical approach which allows a declaration of taking charge of, and responsibility for an article to be forwarded by an individual, and monitoring the charge being taken.

The invention also has the objective of providing such a collaborative logistical approach that is simple and practical to use for the individuals participating therein.

Another objective of the invention is to provide such a collaborative logistical approach involving little or no constraint at the level of individuals participating in the forwarding of the articles, notably with regard to managing the electrical recharging level of the technical means coupled to the articles to be forwarded and involved in the spatiotemporal traceability of the articles.

The invention also has the objective of providing a global system for forwarding articles, implementing such a traceability system.

In addition, the invention has the objective of providing such a system for forwarding articles which ensures a fast and inexpensive service for senders of articles.

These objectives, as well as others that will appear later, are achieved thanks to the invention, the object of which is a system for forwarding articles by individuals of a community, implementing:

-   -   packages intended to contain the articles and bearing at least         one recognition code,     -   a computing platform including at least one computer application         intended to be loaded by the computing units held by the         individuals of the community, and including:         -   at least one database relating to the packages listing the             recognition codes of all the packages;         -   at least one database of the individuals of the community             listing at least one identification code for each             individual, an individual being capable of being identified             on the computing platform by transmitting their             identification code via the computer application contained             in the computing unit that said individual holds,             characterized in that the database relating to the packages             comprises, for each package, a responsibility code intended             to identify the individual temporarily in charge of the             package, and in that the computing platform is configured             for receiving a signal of taking responsibility from the             individual temporarily in charge of the package via the             computer application contained in the computing unit that             said individual holds, and for accordingly modifying, with             the identification code of said individual, the             responsibility code associated with the recognition code of             the package.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the system for forwarding articles ensures a traceability of taking charge of (and responsibility for) articles by the various person or persons taking part in the forwarding.

In this way the person having the responsibility for the article may be identified if needed, notably for contacting them with a view to transmitting or obtaining information on the forwarding in progress.

Furthermore, with a system according to the invention a process is obtained that secures the forwarding, which makes it possible to ensure a reliable operation for the users who send articles through the forwarding system according to the invention.

According to an advantageous solution, the computing units belong to the following group:

-   -   smartphones     -   computer or tablet computer.

With such a collaborative system, the possibility is achieved of bringing together in the same community a very large number of individuals, mobile smartphones being widespread today with a very large coverage of the population.

Moreover, by definition, these mobile phones are carried by individuals. The result is that when an individual of the community carries an article to be forwarded, the onboard device is permanently close to the mobile phone of the individual in question, making it possible to communicate with it and to use its geolocation resources continuously or nearly so.

According to a preferred solution, the database relating to the packages comprises, for each package a piece of timestamping information of an update of the responsibility code.

Thus, additional data is obtained on the forwarding, regarding not only knowing who has the responsibility for an article, but also at what time the responsibility for the article is taken and for how long.

According to a preferred embodiment, the computing platform is configured for receiving a request for transferring responsibility from a transmitting individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said transmitting individual holds, to a receiving individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said receiving individual holds.

In this way, the individual sending the article declares in some way to the computing platform that they are being released from the responsibility for the article, while designating the individual to whom they entrust the responsibility for the article.

This avoids the possibility of an article in the process of being forwarded being “orphaned” by an individual having the responsibility for it.

In this case, the computing platform is advantageously configured for sending a request for acceptance to a receiving individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said receiving individual holds.

In addition, the computing platform is preferably configured for receiving an acceptance signal from a receiving individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said receiving individual holds.

Moreover, the computing platform is advantageously configured for receiving the identification code of the receiving individual having sent an acceptance signal, and for updating the responsibility code with said identification code of the receiving individual.

Preferably, the packages each comprise a computer record and the computing platform is configured for updating the computer record for constituting a log of the responsibility codes associated with the recognition code of the package.

The invention also relates to a method for monitoring taking responsibility for an article forwarded with the aid of a system as previously described, characterized in that it includes the steps of:

-   -   activating the computer application allowing the exchange of         data between the computing platform and a computing unit held by         an individual;     -   reception by the computing platform of a signal of taking         responsibility from the individual temporarily in charge of the         package via the computer application contained in the computing         unit that said individual holds, and accordingly modifying the         responsibility code associated with the recognition code of the         package.

The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions suitable for executing the steps of the method described above and a computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program is recorded comprising instructions for executing the steps of the method described above.

Furthermore, as will appear later, the invention provides a system for forwarding articles by individuals of a community, implementing a spatiotemporal traceability system comprising a computing platform including at least one computer application intended to be loaded by portable computing units held by individuals of the community and comprising first near field wireless communication means and geolocation means, characterized in that it comprises devices embedded in packages intended to contain the articles, the embedded devices each comprising second near field wireless communication means, capable of communicating with the first near field wireless communication means, and at least one computer processing module capable of cooperating with the second near field wireless communication means for retrieving and processing data supplied by said second near field wireless communication means, and in that the computer module comprises said computer application with a view to allowing the exchange of data between the computer module and the portable computing units, the computer application being configured for opening a communication channel intended to allow the embedded devices to access and use the geolocation means of the computing units.

Thus, thanks to the invention, a spatiotemporal traceability system is obtained for tracking moving articles in a collaborative system for forwarding articles by individuals of a community, without transferring responsibility for the correct operation of the technical means coupled to the forwarded article, with regard in particular to the electrical recharging level of the technical means coupled to the article to be forwarded for ensuring its geolocation.

Indeed, technical means that are large consumers of electrical power, such as geolocation means, are absent from the technical means coupled to the forwarded article. Only means involving low power consumption are coupled to the forwarded article.

It follows that it is possible to electrically power technical means coupled to the forwarded article by a simple battery, capable of autonomously providing an electrical power supply over a long period.

According to this aspect of the invention, the embedded devices are somehow grafted onto the portable, and optionally successive units during the mobility of the forwarded article, via the near field wireless communication means and use the “smartness” of the portable units, in particular regarding the geolocation means incorporated in the portable units.

The embedded devices can thus travel long distances in complete electrical autonomy. In addition, they may be reused many times, without having to recharge them electrically, by being coupled to different successive articles to be forwarded.

Of course, the possible repeated reuse of the embedded devices adds an obvious economic interest to the traceability system, as well as an optimized carbon footprint by avoiding the rapid obsolescence of the embedded devices, either wholly or in part.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of a simple, illustrative and non-restrictive example, and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system for forwarding articles according to the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the process of transferring responsibility in a system for forwarding articles according to the invention;

FIG. 3 provides a schematic illustration of a container capable of being used for forwarding an article, and of its environment in a system for forwarding articles according to the invention.

As previously noted, the principle of the invention is to provide a collaborative type of system for forwarding articles, i.e. implemented by a set of individuals of a community, said system implementing a spatiotemporal traceability system.

As illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 3, such a system is of the type comprising:

-   -   computing units 1 held by individuals I of a community;     -   a computing platform 3 including a computer application intended         to be loaded by the portable computing units;     -   embedded devices 2 in packages E each bearing at least one         recognition code 31 and intended to contain the articles O to be         forwarded, these packages being able to be any container         (envelope, parcel, packet, etc.) of shapes and dimensions suited         to the article to be forwarded, (the dimensions of the container         and the overall weight of the container added to that of the         contents being preferably, but not exclusively, suited to the         criteria defined for hand luggage according to the criteria of         the airlines).

The computing platform 3 comprises a remotely accessible server 30 configured for receiving forwarding data for an article from a departure point to an arrival point. The method of entering the departure point and the arrival point is described in more detail later.

Furthermore, the server hosts a first database 303 concerning the “client” individuals and the articles to be forwarded including:

-   -   an identification code of the individual;     -   information characterizing an article to be forwarded by weight         and size;     -   a departure date from a geolocated location;     -   a delivery date from a geolocated location.

The server also hosts a second database 302 for “traveling” individuals of the community and their portable computing units, including (in addition to the identity of the individuals):

-   -   an identification code of the individual;     -   a departure date of the individual;     -   a departure location of the individual;     -   an arrival date of the individual;     -   an arrival location of the individual.

It is noted that each embedded device is identifiable by a digital identification code, the server 30 hosting a database 301 relating to the packages, this database listing:

-   -   the recognition codes 31 of the packages;     -   digital identification codes 32 of each embedded device.

The server also hosts a third database 304 concerning the “depositary” individuals of the community and their portable computing units and/or their computer, including (in addition to their identity):

-   -   an identification code of the individual;     -   their geographical position;     -   the number of packages (with embedded device) that they have.

The databases 302, 303 and 304 may be separate or grouped within a global database. Each of them is capable of receiving data in conjunction with the computer applications dedicated to the user profile, in this case to the “traveling” computer application 305, the “client” computer application 306 and the “depositary” computer application 307 respectively.

Thus, each individual is capable of identifying themselves to the computing platform by transmitting their identification code via the computer application contained in the computing unit that the individual holds.

It is further noted that the computing platform comprises connection and communication means with the user interfaces configured for transmitting requests for forwarding articles, to the computing platform.

In practice, these interfaces consist of smartphones, or computers or tablet computers (in the case, for example, of “depositary” individuals of the community), on which a dedicated computer application has been loaded.

According to the principle of the invention the system for forwarding is implemented by a system of transferring responsibility, aimed at ensuring traceability of the successive acts of taking charge of the package or packages provided with the embedded devices previously described.

As previously mentioned, this system of transferring responsibility provides that the server of the system's computing platform comprises a database including identification and monitoring data for each embedded device, as well as a recognition code of each package. More precisely, the identification data may comprise, both the Bluetooth number of the computer module and a journey number, defined by the server of the computing platform and assigned to the embedded device by coupling the Bluetooth number and the journey number. This assignment is performed in practice at the time the article is inserted in the package, the person performing this operation being connected to the server and linking the digital file of the forwarding to be performed (requested and recorded by the sender of the article) to a visual code (number or QR code, or other) borne by the package (all the packages, and therefore all the Bluetooth numbers, with the corresponding visual codes being known to the server).

A “responsibility code” field 33, intended to identify the individual temporarily in charge of the package E, is also associated with each package, in addition to the recognition code 31 and optionally digital identification 32 and monitoring codes of the embedded device.

Moreover, the database relating to the packages comprises, for each package a piece of timestamping information 34 of an update of the responsibility code.

Thus, the system of transferring responsibility is programmed for executing the following steps (by the server of the system's computing platform):

associating, in the responsibility code field 33, the identity (provided by the identification code of the individual) of the person taking charge of the package (and the article it contains) with the list of identification and monitoring data of the device embedded in the package, with timestamping of this association;

sending to a new person about to take charge of the package, an acceptance request sent by the person about to transmit the package via the system's platform;

receiving the acceptance sent by the person taking charge of the package;

modifying, in the responsibility code field 33, the identity of the person taking charge of the package (and the article it contains), with timestamping of this modification.

It is noted that the steps that have just been described assume that both persons, the one who gives up taking charge and the one that accepts it, have a connection to the server of the computing platform.

It is, however, conceivable, in the event that one of the persons, or even both persons, do not have a connection to the server, to modify and temporarily store the change in information relating to the person in charge of the package, the information being transmitted to the server by the corresponding smartphone (or the corresponding computer) as soon as the connection is recovered (or even by the smartphone of a third person).

Generally speaking, it is understood therefore that the platform is configured for receiving a signal of taking responsibility from the individual temporarily in charge of the package via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said individual holds, and for accordingly modifying the responsibility code associated with the recognition code of the package.

With reference to FIG. 3, the process of transferring responsibility takes place as described below.

An individual (known as the transmitting individual IT), about to transmit an article (in its package E) to another individual (known as the receiving individual IR), activates on their computer unit 1 (smartphone or other) the computer application allowing the exchange of data between the computing platform 3 and the computing unit that they hold.

With the aid of the computer application, the transmitting individual IT sends to the computing platform 3 a request for transferring responsibility (the computing platform being configured for receiving this request for transferring responsibility via the computer application contained in the computing unit that the transmitting individual holds).

The transmitting individual IT sends, with the request for transferring responsibility, the identification code of the receiving individual IR (the computing platform being configured for receiving and storing the identification code of the receiving individual) to whom the transmitting individual IT is about to entrust the article to be forwarded. This allows the computing platform 3 to send a request for acceptance to a receiving individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit 1 that the receiving individual IR holds.

In return, the receiving individual IR sends an acceptance signal via the computer application contained in their computing unit (the platform being configured for receiving an acceptance signal from the receiving individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit that the receiving individual holds). The acceptance signal sent via the computer application contains the identification code of the receiving individual (the computing platform being configured for receiving the identification code of the receiving individual having sent an acceptance signal).

Then, the responsibility code associated with the package is updated with the identification code of the receiving individual (the computing platform being configured for updating the responsibility code with the identification code of the receiving individual).

In addition, the computing platform records the time and date of the acceptance signal in the timestamping information 34.

This process is, of course, reproduced at each transfer of the package from one individual to another.

It is noted that “updating” the responsibility code is optionally understood to mean updating the log of the successively recorded responsibility codes.

Accordingly, the packages each comprise a computer record 35. At the same time, the computing platform is configured for updating the computer record 35 of each package E with the successive responsibility codes and timestamping information relating to the transfers of responsibility. Thus, a log is created of the responsibility codes associated with the package recognition code.

According to a particular and preferred embodiment, the portable computing units consist of smartphones of a widespread common type, notably comprising first near field wireless communication means 10 and geolocation means 11.

According to a feature of the invention, the forwarding system implements a system of traceability of the articles comprising the computing platform 3, notably based on the use of the embedded devices 2 in their turn comprising second near field wireless communication means 20, capable of communicating with the first near field wireless communication means 10. In addition, these embedded devices comprise at least one computer processing module 21 capable of cooperating with the second near field wireless communication means 20 for retrieving and processing data supplied by these second communication means.

Of course, the embedded devices may comprise many other structural and functional means, referred to later.

According to the invention, the computer module 21 of the embedded devices and computing units 1 comprise in common a computer application allowing the exchange of data between them. This computer application is configured for opening a communication channel intended to allow the computer module 21 of the embedded devices 2 to access and use the geolocation means 11 of the computer units. In other words, the computer modules incorporate the computer application, which may also be loaded, from the computing platform, onto the computing units held by the individuals of the community. Once the link is established between the embedded device and the computing unit, the computer application (common to the embedded device and the computing unit) opens a communication channel via the first and second near field wireless communication means, and allows the embedded device to access and use the geolocation means of the computing unit.

Thus, as illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the computer module of the embedded devices employs, as resources dedicated to traceability, and therefore for geolocation, the resources of the portable computing units (therefore in this case those of the smartphone held by the individual forwarding the article), throughout the journey made by the individual. Of course, the traceability system applies also in the case where a plurality of individuals take turns to forward the article, the embedded device then successively communicating with each portable computing unit of the individuals.

As will be explained in more detail later, the geolocation of the article may also be achieved via a portable computing unit held by a depositary of the article, the article then optionally waiting to be picked up by a traveling individual.

According to an advantageous solution, the first near field wireless communication means and the second near field wireless communication means exchange data via Bluetooth (or via WiFi according to another conceivable embodiment).

The second near field wireless communication means and the computer processing module of the embedded devices are powered by a simple non-rechargeable battery 22.

It is noted that the embedded devices may correspond to other structural and/or functional means powered, periodically or continuously by the battery of the device, and notably:

-   -   shock detection means 23;     -   temperature sensor 24;     -   humidity sensor 25;     -   lighting means 26;     -   video capture means 27;     -   weight measurement means 28;     -   opening/closure detection means 29;     -   etc.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the system for forwarding articles comprises a computing platform 3 for managing the forwarding of articles, including the first long distance communication means intended for communicating with second long distance communication means incorporated in the portable computing units.

The server 30 of the computing platform further comprises means of storing 300 geolocation data transmitted to the computing platform by the portable units.

The system of traceability of the articles to be forwarded is therefore not restricted to the local storage of the geolocation data transmitted by the portable computing units within the computer module of the embedded devices. On the contrary, in addition to the geolocation resources of the portable computing units used by the embedded devices, the latter also use the long distance communication means of the portable computing units for exchanging with the computing management platform.

The process of forwarding the articles and interacting between the individuals in a system for forwarding according to the invention will now be described.

According to a first example of forwarding, an article is forwarded from one depositary location to another depositary location, the user of the service sending the article then having to go to the first depositary location to remove the article to be forwarded and the recipient individual must go to the second depositary location to pick up the forwarded article.

According to this process, the user having an article to be forwarded connects to the system's computing platform for accessing the user interface allowing them to enter:

-   -   a departure date, from a geolocated location (insofar as the         user knows the closest depositary location, otherwise the         computing platform may specify this depositary location         according to the geolocation of the user, e.g. according to         their place of work or their residence);     -   a delivery date and a geolocated location (that may take the         form of a destination address);     -   the weight and/or dimensions of the article;     -   optionally, a means of payment.

According to the departure geolocation means entered, the computing platform reserves a shipping packet provided with an embedded device as previously described, and reports this reservation to the depositary location. If no shipping packet is available at the specified depositary location, the computing platform ensures a service for sending a shipping packet to the specified depositary location.

The user goes to the first depositary location with their article to be forwarded. With the aid of a dedicated computer application loaded onto the user's smartphone, the latter transmits the data relating to the article and its forwarding to the depositary, who has the same computer application on their smartphone (or on a computer). With the aid of these identification data, the depositary identifies the shipping packet assigned to the article to be forwarded (the computing platform of the service having chosen a specific digital identification code of the embedded device incorporated in the shipping packet).

The depositary has the article to be forwarded in the identified shipping packet. The user validates, via their dedicated application, the handover to the depositary, the latter digitally accepting this handover, then making them responsible for the article and the shipping packet.

It is noted at this stage that the embedded device of the shipping packet begins to communicate, via the near field wireless communication means, with the smartphone of the depositary to access the geolocation resources of this smartphone.

In parallel with this, a community of individuals is declared to the system's computer management platform, who notably enter:

-   -   a departure date;     -   a departure location;     -   an arrival date;     -   an arrival location.

With the user data, and the data on the individuals of the community and on their movement, the server of the computing platform forms two databases, namely a database concerning the articles to be forwarded and a database concerning the portable units held by the individuals, with the data relating to the movement of the individuals.

The management system compares in real time the data relating to the shipping packet present in the depositary premises and ready to be shipped, with the database relating to the individuals of the community and to their movement. This comparison leads the computing platform to choose an individual for their presence near the departure depositary location and for their destination near the depositary arrival location. An alert is sent e.g. by SMS on the smartphone of the traveling individual indicating to them the time and the location where they should go to pick up the shipping packet including the article to be forwarded.

At the departure depositary location, the traveler is identified to the depositary with the aid of the computer program loaded on their smartphone, and transmits to the depositary the identification of the shipping packet that they have just picked up.

The depositary validates the handover of the shipping packet to a traveling individual, via the computer system, which leads to:

-   -   disconnecting the smartphone of the depositary from the device         embedded in the packet;     -   connecting the device embedded in the shipping packet to the         smartphone of the traveling individual.

The traveling individual goes to the second depositary location, namely the arrival depositary location. During the journey, the device embedded in the shipping packet is permanently connected with the smartphone of the traveling individual, ensuring monitoring and geolocation of the forwarded article, these data being able to be transmitted periodically to the computing platform so as to be accessible to the user and the sender.

At the arrival depositary location, the traveling individual hands over the shipping packet to the depositary, indicating via computer the packet and shipment identification to the depositary, the latter validating via computer that the shipping packet has been taken in charge, which leads to:

-   -   disconnecting the embedded device of the shipping packet from         the smartphone of the traveling individual;     -   connecting the embedded device of the shipping packet to the         smartphone of the depositary.

Acceptance of taking charge of the shipping packet by the arrival depositary is reported via computer to the system's computer management platform, which sends an alert signal by SMS to the recipient user, by transmitting the geolocation data of the arrival depositary location to them.

The recipient individual goes to the arrival depositary location and is identified to the depositary via the computer application previously loaded on their smartphone.

The depositary verifies the identity of the recipient individual via computer and validates the handover of the shipping packet to this individual, which leads to:

-   -   disconnecting the packet's embedded device from the depositary's         smartphone;     -   connecting the embedded device of the shipping packet to the         recipient individual's smartphone.

The recipient user validates the receipt of the shipping packet via computer, this validation being transmitted to the system's computer management platform which informs the sending user by SMS.

Of course, the depositary forwarding system just described may be enriched upstream and downstream, via the intervention of a traveling individual forwarding the shipping packet between the sending individual and the depositary departure location, and by the intervention of a traveling individual who may, at the other end of the forwarding, ensure the movement of the shipping packet from the depositary arrival location to the recipient individual. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A system for forwarding articles by individuals of a community, implementing: packages intended to contain the articles and bearing at least one recognition code, a computing platform including at least one computer application intended to be loaded by the computing units held by the individuals of the community, and including: at least one database relating to the packages listing the recognition codes of all the packages; at least one database of the individuals of the community listing at least one identification code for each individual, an individual being capable of being identified on the computing platform by transmitting their identification code via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said individual holds, wherein the database relating to the packages comprises, for each package, a responsibility code intended to identify the individual temporarily in charge of the package, and in that the computing platform is configured for receiving a signal of taking responsibility from the individual temporarily in charge of the package via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said individual holds, and for accordingly modifying, with the identification code of said individual, the responsibility code associated with the recognition code of the package.
 13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the computing units belong to the following group: smartphones computer or tablet computer.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the database relating to the packages comprises, for each package, a piece of timestamping information of an update of the responsibility code.
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the computing platform is configured for receiving a request for transferring responsibility from a transmitting individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said transmitting individual holds, to a receiving individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said receiving individual holds.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the computing platform is configured for sending a request for acceptance to a receiving individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said receiving individual holds.
 17. The system of claim 16, characterized in that the computing platform is configured for receiving an acceptance signal from a receiving individual via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said receiving individual holds.
 18. The system of claim 17, characterized in that the computing platform is configured for receiving the identification code of the receiving individual having sent an acceptance signal, and for updating the responsibility code with said identification code of the receiving individual.
 19. The system as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the packages each comprise a computer record and in that the computing platform is configured for updating the computer record for constituting a log of the responsibility codes associated with the recognition code of the package.
 20. A method for monitoring taking responsibility for an article forwarded with the aid of a system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method includes the steps of: activating the computer application allowing the exchange of data between the computing platform and a computing unit held by an individual; reception by the computing platform of a signal of taking responsibility from the individual temporarily in charge of the package via the computer application contained in the computing unit that said individual holds, and accordingly modifying the responsibility code associated with the recognition code of the package.
 21. A computer program comprising instructions suitable for executing the steps of the meth of claim 20, when said computer program is executed by at least one processor.
 22. A computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program is recorded comprising instructions for executing the steps of the method of claim
 20. 